Moving house with two children in different school years

[Pinkjenny]

We are moving house in the Summer. Dc are currently in Years 2 and 5. I've just done a bit of nosing around the council website, and now I need a good lie down. So basically, I have to put their names on waiting lists, and then just hope a place comes up in two different school years in one school?

To be honest Pinkjenny, there is nothing you can do at the moment. It is no good making applications to schools now for September, if they came up with a place immediately they will not hold it for you, and even if they say they are full now who knows what the situation will be then.

the best thing you can do is do the research so that nearer the move you can slap in your applications and name the schools you want.

So do the research into the best primary schools and secondary schools, and then what? If we move over the summer, when do the application go in?

I'm confused

You can't reasonably apply until you have moved.

(You can in fact apply before you move but they will use your current address which I'm guessing is miles away, and will only hold a place for 4 weeks or so anyway).

So order is

• find house with due regard to quality of schools and catchment for secondary
• move
• apply to LA for schools as soon as you have signed tenancy / exchanged contracts
• accept whatever they give you, go on waiting lists for anything you prefer, appeal if you want to for preferred school

I don't understand that order. I can't do that. We are moving in the summer holidays. So how can I apply when we've moved? They need to stay in their current school until they have a place.

How far are you moving?
Can they stay in current school from new location or will it be too far?

You have wiggle room between signing contracts and physically moving to apply.
Your children may be out of school for a short time between moving and being allocated a place, but these things can be done very quickly if needed (and if you are flexible as to what schools you will accept).

Actually, if you are moving in the summer holidays then ideally there should be no issues. Schools are closed but the LAs (who hold the waiting lists) aren't.
Obviously though you can't look around schools in the holidays.

We are moving 130 miles. I can look at the schools now though I suppose and do some research.

The LA will have a duty to find you somewhere.
You can improve your chances of them getting into an OK school by picking an area with a cluster of reasonable primaries, and definitely aim for being in catchment of good secondary (is it a grammar area?).

However there are no guarantees. You just have to go for it.

If you can be put on your DPs tenancy agreement then it could be easier. I would talk to admissions at the LA and also contact Dickens Heath primary directly.

I spoke to admissions and schools 4 months before we moved.

I'd say jusr ring them. They can advise you on the process, when to apply and whether you can apply using your dps current address. I found the admissions team really helpful and it took lot of the worry out of it.

If she isn't doing 11+, then I don't think you're going to get a choice of anything other than Light Hall, are you?

It's stressful isn't it?

We moved in December and DS has been admitted into the local oversubscribed infants under the fair access protocol. We couldn't do anything until we'd exchanged. We completed and moved the same day as exchange, scanned and emailed proof to admissions immediately and we had a place within a week.

My best bit of advice is talk to admissions and be led completely by them.

So if I were you I would get on dp's tenancy now (or soon), then research schools and the admissions protocol. If as someone said above they will only hold a place for 4 weeks then apply 4 weeks before the summer holidays.

Unless there are no schools near dp in which case research everything and consider moving dp to your new rented house (ideally near several primaries) in June or July to get a head start on applying.

A school cannot refuse to admit an EHCP child if they have space

We didn't refuse to take them, but when we explained the situation to admissions they had to admit that adding another child with additional needs into such a class was not in the child's best interests.

just be mindful that as your eldest is currently in yr 5 by September they will be in yr 6 and applications close for secondary schools on 15/10 so make sure you have a local address before then as you may find yourself missing out on a secondary school of your choice too.

sorry 31/10.

Although applications for free schools may be different - we have open opening in September - closing date was 12th December 2016.

Eroica why only Light Hall? You don't need 11+ for Tudor Grange or Alderbrook.

Tudor Grange first choice primary and secondary, but it was their secretary who basically laughed down the phone at me

Dickens Heath is too far for either Tudor Grange or Alderbrook!
The catchment distance has gone down so much. Will be far worse next year. Population boom in West Midlands is only just begun.

How able is she? Grammars are super-selective so take top 4% not top 25 or 30, but is possible if she's able.

Being practical, does dp have children already? They would be classed as siblings for admissions criteria if you're joining households.
Or, could you move into a home closer the schools, I.e. he move too?
I appreciate that's not necessarily possible or desirable.

He does, but not in that area. I doubt dd would pass 11+.

Shirley is a possibility, which is in the catchment for Tudor Grange. Practical advice appreciated, less of the doom, please, it's stressful enough.

Phone then now. This week. Take the name of who you speak to. And make sure they take your name. Then when you ring again you can say :
"Yes, yes, it's mrs x, I rang on the 4th of Jan, and spoke to Sandra green and she said ......"

I shall call forthwith in the morning.